Forestry Ministry monitoring 42 Sumatran tigers recorded in Bengkulu

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Forestry Ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has conducted monitoring efforts that recorded the presence of 42 Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) in their Bengkulu habitat.

Head of the Bengkulu-Lampung Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Himawan Sasongko, stated on Monday that joint monitoring with conservation partners—using camera traps and field patrols from 2020 to 2025—identified 42 individual tigers across three main landscapes.

"These results indicate that the Seblat area remains an important habitat for Sumatran tigers and other wildlife that help maintain ecosystem balance," he said.

During a survey in the Seblat area from March to May 2025, the team captured 1,860 photographs from 16 camera traps installed over a 52-day period.

The footage documented the activity of the endangered species in the area, along with the presence of various other animals, such as tapirs (Tapirus indicus), Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus), clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi diardi), and other forest-dwelling species.

As part of a verification effort, Sasongko noted that his agency, in collaboration with local governments, community organizations, and conservation partners, held a focus group discussion titled "Sumatran Tiger Data Verification" to ensure the accuracy of tiger distribution data in Bengkulu Province. This data will serve as the basis for future conservation action plans.

He also highlighted that threats to the survival of Sumatran tigers remain high, including poaching, forest encroachment, and human-wildlife conflict driven by habitat loss.

He emphasized the importance of cross-stakeholder collaboration to protect forest areas and tiger habitats.

“Sumatran tigers are a keystone species. Protecting them means preserving the health of Sumatra’s forest ecosystem. This monitoring data will be crucial in developing more precise and effective protection strategies, while also confirming the presence of tigers in southern Bengkulu Province and along the Lampung border,” he remarked.

Sasongko added that the monitoring effort reflects a shared commitment to conserving Sumatran tigers in their natural habitat and raising public awareness about the importance of forest and wildlife conservation.